Attachment unit

ABSTRACT

An attachment unit includes a base plate, including a male connection element extending from a surface of the base plate. The attachment unit also includes a top plate, including a female connection element extending from a surface of the top plate, wherein the female connection element is configured to mate with the male connection element of the base plate. A tether having a first end may be connected to the base plate, and a second end of the tether may be connected to the top plate. An anchoring element may be configured to enable attachment of the base plate to a surface.

CLAIM FOR PRIORITY

The present invention claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/554,115 filed on Nov. 1, 2011, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application relates to an attachment unit for affixing one or more articles to a surface. For example, in some embodiments, the disclosed attachment unit may be used to attach a race number to a garment.

BACKGROUND

In certain circumstances, it may be desirable to attach various articles to a surface. For example, such articles may include plaques, pennants, patches, paper, or any other articles that may be attached to a surface, and these articles may be attached to surfaces such as fabric, clothing and/or other soft surfaces. In some instances, the articles for attachment may include paper or fabric articles printed with a number (e.g., a race number for a running, cycling, triathlon event, etc.), a company/sponsor's name/tagline/logo, an individual's name or group name, personal information (e.g., an address, emergency contact and medical information, etc.), or any other symbols, words, or graphics. In some cases, such articles have been attached to fabric using conventional safety pins. The described attachment unit may reduce or eliminate the need for conventional pin-based fixture elements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An attachment unit includes a base plate, including a male connection element extending from a surface of the base plate. The attachment unit also includes a top plate, including a female connection element extending from a surface of the top plate, wherein the female connection element is configured to mate with the male connection element of the base plate. A tether having a first end may be connected to the base plate, and a second end of the tether may be connected to the top plate. An anchoring element may be configured to enable attachment of the base plate to a surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic top view representation of an attachment unit according to an exemplary disclosed embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic side view representation of an attachment unit according to an exemplary disclosed embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic side view representation of an attachment unit according to an exemplary disclosed embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic side view representation of an attachment unit according to an exemplary disclosed embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic side view representation of an attachment unit according to an exemplary disclosed embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic top view representation of a base plate for an attachment unit according to an exemplary disclosed embodiment.

FIG. 7A provides a diagrammatic rear view representation of garment including an attachment unit according to an exemplary disclosed embodiment.

FIG. 7B provides a diagrammatic front view representation of garment including an attachment unit according to an exemplary disclosed embodiment.

FIG. 8A provides a diagrammatic rear view representation of garment including an attachment unit according to an exemplary disclosed embodiment.

FIG. 8B provides a diagrammatic front view representation of garment including an attachment unit according to an exemplary disclosed embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 provides diagrammatic top view representation of an attachment unit 10 according to an exemplary disclosed embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, attachment unit 10 may include a base plate 100, a top plate 110, and a tether 120 attaching base plate 100 to top plate 110.

Attachment unit 10 may have a variety of uses. In some embodiments, attachment unit 10 may be used to attach one or more articles to a surface. For example, among other potential uses, attachment unit 10 may be configured to attach various articles, such as race numbers, banners, logos, patches, etc., to surfaces such as fabric surfaces (e.g, garments, banners, etc.).

Base plate 100 may be fabricated from any suitable materials and may be formed having any suitable configuration depending on the requirements of a particular application. In some embodiments, base plate 100 may be from a polymer, a metal, or combinations thereof. For example, base plate 100 may be made from thermoplastics, vinyl based polymers, ethyl based polymers, polyesters, etc. Base plate 100 may also include one or more metals, such as aluminum, steel, tin, brass, copper, among others.

Similar to base plate 100, top plate 110 may also be fabricated from any suitable materials and may be formed having any suitable configuration depending on the requirements of a particular application. In some embodiments, top plate 110 may be from a polymer, a metal, or combinations thereof. For example, top plate 110 may be made from thermoplastics, vinyl based polymers, ethyl based polymers, polyesters, etc. Top plate 110 may also include one or more metals, such as aluminum, steel, tin, brass, copper, among others.

Tether 120 may also include various materials and configurations depending on the requirements of a particular application. In some embodiments, tether 120 may include a string, cord, elastic band, coiled spring, cable, or any other type of connection element. In some embodiments, the tether may be made from a polymer (e.g., nylon, fishing line, a solid plastic cord, etc.) The tether may also be made from leather, metal, or any combinations of polymers, metals, or natural materials. The tether may be configured to have any suitable size, both in thickness/diameter and length. In some embodiments, tether 120 may be less than 0.125 inches in diameter. In other embodiments tether 120 may be less than 1/16″ in diameter and may be a small as about 15 microns depending on the material used. In some embodiments, tether 120 may have a length of less than about four inches, or less than about two inches. In some embodiments, tether 120 may be less than 0.5 inches in length.

Base plate 100 and/or top plate 110 may be configured with various structural elements to allow base plate 100 and top plate 110 to be secured to one another. For example, in one embodiment, base plate 100 may include a male connection element 105 extending from a surface of the base plate, and top plate 110 may include a female connection element 106 extending from a surface of the top plate, as shown in FIG. 2. The female connection element may be configured to mate with the male connection element of the base plate to secure top plate 110 to base plate 100.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 2, male connection element 105 may include a flared section 220. This flared section may be configured in size and shape to occupy a corresponding recess formed on the inner surface of female connection element 106. Such a structure may provide a snap closure that enables top plate 110 to be removably secured to base plate 100 by pressing top plate 110 onto base plate 100.

Other embodiments may include additional or alternative structures for securing top plate 110 to base plate 100. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, male connection element 105 may include threads 410 configured to engage with corresponding threads on female connection element 420. In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, male connection element 105 may include a configuration to promote a friction-based press fit with female connection element 520. For example, male connection element 105 may include a sloped surface 510 configured to form a press fit with a corresponding structure associated with female connection element 520. Optionally, surface 510 may be formed from or covered with one or more materials that provide a desired coefficient of friction.

Various other structures may be incorporated into base plate 100, top plate 110, male connection elements 105, and/or female connection elements 106 to provide a desired level of mechanical strength and/or to facilitate the ability of these elements to be removeably or fixably attached to one another. For example, these structures may include ridges, singular/multiple shears-like surface points, rings, bumps, threads, etc. configured to promote the attachment of one component to another.

Returning to FIG. 2, and depending on the requirements of a particular application, tether 120 may include various configurations for securing base plate 100 to top plate 110. In one embodiment, tether 120 may include a first end connected to base plate 100 and a second end connected to top plate 110. These connections may be formed, for example, by including loops on the ends of tether 120, by attaching the ends of tether 120 to the base plate 100 and/or top plate 110 using adhesive, by integrally forming tether 120 with base plate 100 and/or top plate 110, or by using any other suitable method of attachment. The attachment point of tether 120 with base plate 100 and top plate 110 may be varied. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, tether 120 may be connected to edge regions of base plate 100 and/or top plate 110. In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, a tether 310 may be connected to central regions of base plate 100 and/or top plate 110. In some embodiments, tether 120 and/or tether 310 may be retractable.

Tethering base plate 100 together with top plate 110 may reduce or eliminate unintended loss of either the top plate or base plate. The tether and/connection points for the tether on one or both of the base plate and top plate may be configured such that the tether may be disconnected from either the top plate, the bottom plate, or both.

Returning to FIG. 2, base plate 100 may include an anchoring element 210 configured for securing base plate 100 to a surface. In some embodiments, anchoring element 210 may include a layer of adhesive, a hook and loop fastener (e.g., Velcro), or any other suitable structure for fixing base plate 100 to a surface, such as the fabric of a garment. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6, base plate 100 may include an anchoring element 610 configured with a plurality of holes 620 through which a connection may be established with an underlying surface. For example, such holes may be configured to accept thread for sewing base plate 100 to an underlying garment or may be configured to receive adhesive etc. for joining base plate 100 to an underlying surface. While anchoring element 610 is shown in FIG. 6 as including a flanged structure formed at the periphery of base plate 100, other configurations may be used. For example, anchoring element 610 may include one or more tabs formed at the edges of base plate 100 and/or may include a region of holes 620 centrally located on base plate 100 (e.g., within an area at least partially overlapping with an area beneath male connection element 105).

In operation, top plate 110 may be removably or fixably attached (e.g., snapped-on) to base plate 100 through downward physical pressure (e.g., via a human hand), through threading on, through press fit, or through any other suitable attachment procedure. In some embodiments, the snap on attachment or press fit arrangements may be augmented by a rotating mechanism (either threaded or otherwise) to promote closure of the snap-on mechanism. Various articles may be attached to an underlying surface (e.g., a garment) using attachment unit 10. For example, a paper article (e.g., a running, cycling, triathlon, etc. race ID number) may be positioned between the base plate and top plate of attachment unit 10, and when top plate 110 and base plate 100 are united or snapped together, the attachment unit 10 may effectively hold any such article securely in place. The top plate and base plate may be configured to securely fit together by virtue of a male/female snap-on mechanism as described above.

One or more attachment units 10 may be secured to or integrated with a surface, such as a garment, in order to provide predetermined connection points for various articles. In some embodiments, base plate 100 may be attached to a garment, sports apparel, bags, sporting equipment, etc. In certain embodiments, a manufacturer of the garment, apparel, etc. may complete the attachment of the base plate. Alternatively, a user, retailer, or other entity may attach the base plate to the attachment surface using any of the methods described above or any other suitable attachment method.

FIG. 7A provides a diagrammatic rear view of an exemplary garment including a plurality of attachment units 710. Attachment units 710 may be located on the garment in any suitable location. In some embodiments, attachment units 710 may be arranged in groups near the sides of the garment in order to enable attachment of race numbers on either side of the garment. Each group of attachment units 710 may include any suitable number of attachment units. For example, in some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 7A or in FIG. 7B, which shows a front view of an exemplary garment, each group of attachment units 710 or 720 may include four attachment units to attach to the corners of a race number or other article. Alternatively, groups of attachment units may include two attachment units 810 or 820, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B.

The number of attachment units used to affix an article to another surface (such as a paper number to fabric), however, is not limited to any particular number. For example, in some embodiments, a attachment unit may be used. In other embodiments, multiple attachment units may be used (e.g., two, four, eight, etc.)

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the disclosed without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Other embodiments of the disclosed systems and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosure disclosed herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An attachment unit, including: a base plate, including a male connection element extending from a surface of the base plate; a top plate, including a female connection element extending from a surface of the top plate, wherein the female connection element is configured to mate with the male connection element of the base plate; a tether having a first end connected to the base plate and a second end connected to the top plate; and an anchoring element configured to enable attachment of the base plate to a surface.
 2. The attachment unit of claim 1, wherein the anchoring element is affixed to an underside of the base plate and includes Velcro.
 3. The attachment unit of claim 1, wherein the anchoring element is affixed to an underside of the base plate and includes an adhesive.
 4. The attachment unit of claim 1, wherein the anchoring element includes a portion of the base plate configured with through holes.
 5. The attachment unit of claim 1, wherein the male connection element includes a flared section configured to occupy a recess in the female connection element to form a snap closure.
 6. The attachment unit of claim 1, wherein the male connection element includes threads configured to interface with corresponding threads on the female connection element.
 7. The attachment unit of claim 1, wherein the male connection element is configured to establish a friction fit with the female connection element.
 8. The attachment unit of claim 1, wherein the first end of the tether connects to a central region of the male connection unit, and the second end of the tether connects to a central region of the female connection unit, and wherein the tether is retractable.
 9. The attachment unit of claim 1, wherein at least one of the base plate or the top plate includes a polymer.
 10. The attachment unit of claim 1, wherein the tether is made from a polymer, a metal, or combinations thereof.
 11. The attachment unit of claim 1, wherein the tether is removably connected to at least one of the base plate or the top plate.
 12. A garment, including: a fabric surface associated with the garment; and at least one attachment unit affixed to the fabric surface, wherein the at least one attachment unit includes: a base plate, including a male connection element extending from a surface of the base plate; a top plate, including a female connection element extending from a surface of the top plate, wherein the female connection element is configured to mate with the male connection element of the base plate; a tether having a first end connected to the base plate and a second end connected to the top plate; and an anchoring element through which a connection is established between the attachment unit and the fabric surface.
 13. The garment of claim 12, wherein the anchoring element is affixed to an underside of the base plate and includes Velcro.
 14. The garment of claim 12, wherein the anchoring element is affixed to an underside of the base plate and includes an adhesive.
 15. The garment of claim 12, wherein the anchoring element includes a portion of the base plate configured with through holes.
 16. The garment of claim 12, wherein the male connection element includes a flared section configured to interface occupy a recess in the female connection element to form a snap closure.
 17. The garment of claim 12, wherein the male connection element includes threads configured to interface with corresponding threads on the female connection element.
 18. The garment of claim 12, wherein the male connection element is configured to establish a friction fit with the female connection element.
 19. The garment of claim 12, wherein the first end of the tether connects to a central region of the male connection unit, and the second end of the tether connects to a central region of the female connection unit, and wherein the tether is retractable.
 20. The garment of claim 12, wherein the tether is removably connected to at least one of the base plate or the top plate. 